Web Resources: Basic Observing Tools

Know where you are: Learn your latitude and longitude, or at least the coordinates for a nearby city.

http://tinyurl.com/yrdtds

Know when you are: Get the correct time right now, right to the second.

http://tinyurl.com/68ij

Know the Star Time: Go here for a sidereal clock. Once you start to understand astronomical coordinates - right ascension and declination - you'll appreciate how knowing the sidereal time helps you know what's up in your area on any given night.

http://tinyurl.com/25v3v7

Sunrise-sunset, moonrise–moonset: Sun or Moon Rise/Set table for one year for your location courtesy of the US Naval Observatory.

http://tinyurl.com/2s3nkl

Moon phase calendar: Whether you're studying the moon or avoiding its star-stealing glare, knowing the phase is a must.

http://stardate.org/nightsky/moon/

Heavens Above: When is the space shuttle passing over your community? How about other satellites? Also provides full sky charts, and more.

http://heavens-above.com/

Lunar Atlas: This I like - very useful tool for planning, observing, or identifying what caught your eye in an observing session.

http://www.inconstantmoon.com/atlas.htm

Interactive observing tools: Invaluable observing utilities in the form of Java applets tell you such things as the lineup of Jupiter’s moons now.

http://tinyurl.com/2dgo2m